After a brief blip which saw defeats at the hands of Crewe and Tranmere, Stockport have surged back with an unbeaten run of eight league games and victories in their last three games, scoring nine goals without conceding, have propelled them four points clear at the top of the League Two table and on course to improve on their performance in their first season back in the EFL last season when they were beaten in the play-off final by Carlisle, for whom Omari Patrick scored at Wembley. Isaac Olaofe, who played a huge part in Sutton’s promotion to the Football League and a successful first EFL season, has enjoyed a fine season and is Stockport’s leading scorer this season. 

Sutton endured a painful afternoon at Edgeley Park in December, a result that led to a change of management, but four wins in a row have lifted U’s out of the bottom two for the first time since late August and raised hopes that a return to the National League could be avoided. Defender Ryan Jackson limped off on Monday with a groin injury and is unlikely to be fit to face Stockport, but Ben Goodliffe returned from injury as his substitute.

Saturday’s referee is Sunny Singh Gill, who has been on the EFL list since the start of last season and whose last appearance at the VBS was for the EFL Trophy game against Oxford United in October 2022. He made history earlier this year as the first British South Asian to referee in the Premier League when he took charge of the game between Crystal Palace and Luton.

Tickets are on sale on line to Sutton supporters here, price £21 for adults, £15 for concessions and £7 for ages 12-18. Under 12s are admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult or concession. Seat prices are £4 more in all cases. Remember that by buying on line, even on the day of the game, you can avoid the £2 increase in price that is charged for tickets bought in person at the ground on Saturday. 

The Sutton fan zone will be open as usual from 12.30pm, with a Signal Hour until 1.30pm when beer will be £3.50 a pint, and Football with the Foundation from 1.45pm. Ambers’ Bar will also be open showing the Championship derby between Norwich and Ipswich (12.30 kick off). You can also buy tickets in Ambers’ from 12.30pm for the two remaining away games at Harrogate, where it is not guaranteed that tickets will be available on the day, and MK Dons, as well as season tickets for next season, for which full details and prices can be found here, with the early bird window closing next Friday, 12 April.

Before the game the award that the Sutton United Foundation received at the recent London Football Awards for the Pan-Disability Football Project, will be re-presented on the pitch. It is intended that the presentation, and some footage from a Disability Squad training session, will form the community feature in Saturday’s ITV EFL highlights show.

If you can’t get to the game there will be an audio commentary on our iFollow service, with a match pass costing £2.50 and a pass to cover all four of our remaining games available for £4.49. Overseas supporters can watch a live stream for £10. Click here to buy the relevant pass. You can also order a match programme to be sent out after the game for £3 plus postage. Click here to order.

We are pleased to report that at present a normal Thameslink service is scheduled to run through West Sutton station on Saturday, but with an overtime ban in place supporters should be prepared for possible late cancellations. Supporters should note that on April 20th, when we play Crawley, there will be no Thameslink service through West Sutton.

After two narrow defeats which have left them at the foot of the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League 1, the academy side have a game at home to Cheltenham, one place above them and the only other side without a win in the division. The game is at Tooting & Mitcham, but note that the kick off time has been put back to 11.00am